5 I'M NOT A KID

Her loving brother, Daniel but she calls him Danny. The dearest of all, reaching the age of five within two weeks.

Suddenly, the hall turned silent. Vilian felt everyone's gaze on her and her brother. She turned behind and gave them a nervous smile and looked at Danny, and said,

"Danny boy, we have some guests today. Father would love your presence. I bet the small monster in your tummy might be shouting right now for food. Don't make him wait for too long. Go, little one, have your breakfast, okay?" Saying that she patted his head and ruffled his hair, earning a cute growl from him, for he didn't like anyone ruffling his hair. He went with the same excitement again towards his father. 'Well, little kid isn't he... Hehe...' thought Vilian, and just shrugged her shoulder and left the hall.

__________________________________________

Mornings have always been busy for Astrel since the day the company turned to his side. Be it a Sunday or a Monday, it would be the same old fuzzy busy routine.

He woke up at 5.30.a.m. sharply, as his body was used to it, and felt the difference in the surroundings that weren't much familiar to him. The interior designs were the opposite to his liking which he had been used to, for the past few years. As he remembered, having a busy schedule today to complete, he immediately spotted and went straight to the bathroom. Freshening up himself, he came out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe. A new set of cloth was placed on the bed for him that was prepared by Malcolm, as per his order. Wearing his usual black formal suit, he looked himself through the mirror, standing idol in front of him. Without bothering to dry his hair which was dripping with water falling over his shoulder blade, wetting the dark black suit. It was the least of his concern.

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Knock! Knock!

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Before Astrel could give in the permission, there he was Ashley, standing by the doorstep with a wide grin.

Raising his left eyebrow with a questioning gaze, Astrel asked sarcastically, "Why would you bother to knock on the door if you had the idea to invite yourself into my room? Such a shameless brat..." looking at him through the mirror, and then again he went and sat out in a knitted chair that was out there on the patio. He went through a certain file that was sent by Malcolm about the attempt of assassination.

Without bothering about it, Ashley was continuously complaining about the previous night. "Well, brother... Last night I Knocked... You opened up the door lately, made me wait all out there, and didn't invite me in but sent me away. You hurt me you know..."

"Stop acting over dramatically, Ash... Use that calculative brain of yours in a useful manner rather than trying to bicker like a six-year-old boy with me."

Ignoring Astrel's words, like the curious little kid, Ashely started wandering in the room, observing each and everything.

"Hey... You've got a patio over here. How unfair is it that you've got it, but I didn't- Whoa! The view from here is soo cool. Look, the whole back garden is visible from here. Mrs.Demus has a beautiful garden, I say." Said Ashley.

"Are you done admiring, comparing, and contrasting?.."

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Knock! Knock!

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'Who is it now?' Thought Astrel.

"Come in," said he, with an annoyance. In came Demus' assistant with an expressionless face.

"What is it, Deck?" Asked Ashley straightforwardly.

"Excuse my presence, for I have been asked by my Master to invite both the sirs to join the breakfast," said deck, bowing his head down.

"Sure, we will. You shall leave," said Ashley. Deck left the room.

________(Phone Vibrates)_____

Astrel was about to leave the room when the phone started ringing. Seeing the caller ID, he picked it up in an instant, without waiting for it to ring the second time.

"What's it, Lex?.... Yeah... Ok... Keep investigating it. Don't let them go away easily. I'll be there after having my breakfast. Yeah." And then the call ended up.

Ashley, who was observing his brother the whole time during the call was on, didn't miss the change of expression in his brother's look. Astrel's jaw was stiff. After the call ended, he closed his eyes, left a deep exhale, and snapped open his eyes as if to suppress his anger.

"What is it, brother?" Asked Ash with a serious tone.

"Found the culprits..." Astrel said, with a smug look that he show whenever he was about to play something really bad.

'Surely the person's gonna face brother's wrath very badly... Poor little ones' thought Ashley with a pitying look and shook his head with a wide grin.

Both the brothers left the room straight towards the dining hall not bothering about the issue. Entering the dining hall, Astrel caught a glance of the girl who he saw the previous night. He stared at the beautiful doe-like eyes which were opened wide-eyed with a shock. The moment he saw it he felt as if he was the wolf standing in front of its delicious prey.

The eye contact was only for a brief moment. He could feel that she was still looking at him though he was the one who adverted his gaze first. The morning when he was in the washroom and was about to take a shower, he got a call from Demus, so he got to remember Vilian and said he'd be glad to meet Mr.Demus' children. So... Here they are. With the greetings of Demus, the meal was served. Vilian was introduced to them and the breakfast went on...

When the Watsons and Demus were speaking about the assassins Astrel saw Vilian trying to sneak out of the hall.

"Astrel, what are you to do?" asked Mr.Demus snapping him out of his eyesight and observing the girl.

"Mr. Demus I've already taken care of it. Rest assured."

"Astrel it's not necessary to be formal. After all, I'm your godfather." Said Demus.

Suddenly bringing everyone to the attention towards the door which was swiftly opening a little boy came in screaming, "Vileee...." And running towards Vilian. He hugged her waist and snuggled with a wide grin. Astrel saw Vilian reaching down towards the boy speaking something low and finally patting his head with a smile which was... was pleasant he thought 'Why am I even observing her all of a sudden?' Astrel was confused.

The boy came running towards Mr. Demus.

"Daddy!... " Calling out gleefully he went and hugged Mr.Demus too. 'well little kid he is' he thought.

"Daddy... daddy... daddy! look whot I've found. It was in the Leningrad pwond." Said the boy with his baby pronunciation showing a small fish-like pendant in his hand.

"Well..you love collecting such things, don't you? I'll take you to a place where you'll see many more things than this. Would you love to join me?" asked Mr. Demus kindly to his son.

"Reeeeally? I would love to...Vilee will join us too...right vilee?" The boy turned behind but couldn't find his sister. Poor thing.

"Danny. Look. We have some guests today. Why don't you introduce yourself to them?"

"Hi. Um, Daniel." He introduced himself with a carefree smile towards Astrel and Ashley. Ashley was the first to speak up.

"Hey kiddo, I'm Ashley. You can call me Ash"

"I'm not a kid." he said glaring at Ash, "I'm a big boy. I'm 4+ and will be 5 next week. Get it?"

"Okay... Can I call you Danny?"

"Okkayy. Neverrr a kiddd"

"So... Are we friends now?"

"Oh Yes!" said Daniel bringing back the smile onto his face.

Looking in the direction where Astrel was Daniel tapped Astrel's hand with his index finger.

Stopping from the conversation which was going on with Demus he looked towards Daniel.

"What's your name?" he asked eagerly looking through his big widely opened Black eyes.

"Astrel," he said simply because he didn't like being much around kids.

"Ass..t..err..ell...?" He hardly pronounced the name and earned a chuckle from Ashley and Demus.

Not bothering to correct, he just hummed and finished his meal.

"Well...Mr. Demus, it was nice meeting you and we got an opportunity to discuss our plans. Let's meet up once again..." Saying that Astrel got up and shook his hand with Demus and left the hall.

Kneeling to Daniel's level Ashley touched his shoulder blade saying, "bye Danny," and he carried the little boy surprising him. Twirling him twice Ashley put him on the ground while the little boy was giggling with joy.

"So long, Uncle..." Saying that he left the mansion.